“We Can’t Eat, We Can’t Sleep”: Assam Family Trapped in Fear Amid Tensions in Jammu
As tensions between India and Pakistan spiral into military confrontation, civilians caught in the crossfire are bearing the brunt of fear, disruption, and psychological trauma. Among them are families from distant corners of India who, while living in Jammu, now find themselves navigating a terrifying new reality. Pallabi Borpatragohain, a native of Golaghat district in Assam and a long-time resident of Jammu, gave voice to this anguish in an emotional recounting of her family’s harrowing experience. “We can’t eat, we can’t sleep,” she said, capturing the suffocating fear that has gripped not just her household, but the broader Assamese community in Jammu.
From Routine to Ruin: Fear Redefines Daily Life
For seven years, Pallabi and her family lived a life marked by routine and stability in Jammu. But over recent days, their peaceful existence has turned into a siege of terror. As India launched “Operation Sindoor”—a bold military strike targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—retaliatory attacks from Pakistan came swiftly. Drones and missiles rained down on strategic sites in Jammu, many of which are in close proximity to civilian neighborhoods.
In this atmosphere of danger, Pallabi’s home, once a sanctuary, now feels like a ticking time bomb. Her four-year-old child is gripped with fear, jolted by the sound of air raid sirens and startled by flashes of missile trails in the night sky. Out of an abundance of caution, the family has shifted to living exclusively on the ground floor of their rented house, believing it to be marginally safer should an aerial strike occur. Power cuts have added another layer of despair, forcing them to navigate blackouts by candlelight.
Assamese Diaspora in Jammu Under Pressure
The Borpatragohain family is not alone. Nearly 50 Assamese families residing in Jammu find themselves similarly distressed. Many of them are employed in various institutions or government services, which has made leaving difficult. Pallabi’s husband, a government employee, has had his outstation leave suspended due to the security situation. For these families, the choice between personal safety and livelihood is agonizing.
While some Assamese families have begun to leave Jammu for safer areas, others like Pallabi’s remain tethered to the region by jobs, obligations, and the hope that the situation might soon improve. Their lives are now dictated by the rhythm of conflict—moving between shelters, monitoring news for safety advisories, and enduring sleepless nights marked by fear and anxiety.
The Broader Context: Operation Sindoor and Retaliatory Strikes
The root of this present crisis lies in a dramatic escalation of military activities between India and Pakistan. India’s precision strike operation, dubbed “Operation Sindoor,” targeted terrorist training camps and infrastructure across the border. Pakistan’s response was swift and aggressive, launching coordinated drone and missile attacks on Indian military bases and nearby civilian areas. The Jammu region, due to its proximity and strategic significance, has become a frontline zone.
Among the targets were civilian areas that had previously felt distant from the conflict. The fear now is not just of military retaliation but of further escalation that could put millions more at risk. The psychological toll on civilians—especially those not originally from the region, like the Assamese families—is immense, as they face both the threat of violence and the uncertainty of whether they will be able to return to their home states safely.
Government Response and Assistance
Amidst the crisis, the Assam government has stepped in to show solidarity with the affected. Following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, the Assam government announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the victims. While this gesture brings some relief, the long-term solutions for displaced and endangered Assamese residents in Jammu remain unclear.
Additionally, several advisories have been issued against travel to Jammu and Kashmir, urging people to avoid the region due to the elevated risk of terrorism, civil unrest, and ongoing military actions. However, for those who are already in the region and unable to leave, such advisories do little to ease their predicament.
Faith, Fear, and a Hope for Peace
Despite the mounting pressure, Pallabi Borpatragohain remains resilient. Her faith in the Indian armed forces and the hope for stability fuels her determination to hold on. “We are scared, but we trust our soldiers. We are trying to stay calm and follow all instructions,” she said. Her words echo the strength of countless civilians who, though afraid, refuse to surrender to panic.
The story of the Borpatragohain family is not just a local tale of survival—it is a microcosm of the civilian cost of conflict. It serves as a stark reminder that beyond the headlines of strikes and counterstrikes, there are families huddled in darkened homes, praying for dawn, for peace, and for the chance to live again without fear.
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